thomas engagement... take 2

My lovely friend Jill and her boy Justin will be tying the knot soon and I offered to take some engagement pictures for them while in Prescott. Here are a few shots from our first shoot at Emmanuel Pines Campground... well they wanted to come down to Phoenix and try it again in a different location.

As this is my great journey to becoming a world famous photographer, i'm realizing some obstacles of getting the perfect shot. I'm learning i need to talk with my "subjects" more to get the kind of emotional reaction i want, and the beautiful sun... is sometimes more of a pain than a help. I found myself getting frustrated trying to edit the photos i took because everything seemed SO washed out! So as beautiful as the white porch and fence were... sorry guys... they didn't look quite like we had hoped with the 2 o'clock sun pounding down.

the fact that they like each other so much almost makes the shadows go away... at least i keep telling myself that. oh well... now i know for next time...

glendale glitters

I was running some errands in old glendale last weekend and as the sun was starting to set i decided to break out my camera for some shots as i walked back to my car.... last week i tried to take pictures in the antique shop windows after sunset and i was asked to leave the area by the security guard. I guess i'm just that sketchy looking. Or he didn't want me attacked by the homeless men taking refuge on the benches in the surrounding area. who knows? i also happen to make my way up the bank parking garage after hours which was quite beautifully laid out without cars! you never really notice the architecture when you're just trying to get out of them.

Also, on a totally East Coast note, the elevator for this parking garage?! totally air conditioned. it was AWESOME. I was totally cooled down by the time i made it to the 4th floor. while the world is collapsing around us in this economic crisis i'm trying to focus on the little things. don't judge me if an air conditioned elevator on a 105 degree October evening made my day!

the beauty in ugly

on monday i went out shooting in the desert just past anthem with a friend. he apparently goes to a popular spot amoung local guys wanting to target practice (not at a shooting gallery). this was my second time so i knew i might have some great opportunities to bring my camera out... the scenary is just beautiful!

but the guys that go out just TRASH this place... there were old tv's, ammo casings, a plastic santa without a head... anything you might concider trash but would be a blast to just blow to pieces. while the environmentalist in me cries a little bit, i also couldn't help but notice the potential it had for awesome natural pictures. i loved the contrast between the bright blue sky, dusty desert floor, and brilliant discarded casings... along with the shimmer of empty shattered whiskey and beer bottles. i was really excited by what i found! you can be the judges...

through painted deserts

last night i ended up at pennical point at this cool little turn off with tons of hiking and running trails that's really just in the middle of suburbia. just one turn around the mountain and your back in flat and boiling Phoenix... but for an instant i wasn't in the city anymore. and i caught one of the most amazing sights i've seen in a long time! a sunset! something i've taken for granted for so long but actually took time to sit down after i finished taking pictures and just enjoy the beauty of it. I tried to capture it but it was just so quiet i had to put the camera down and just enjoy the scenery and beautiful weather.

cause for real? it's like a special unique gift every single day by our Creator reminding us he made each of us unique just like this sunset and put the same care and love in each of us... back off... i work in a church during the day... you don't expect me to get sappy and deep every once in a while?

now to offset that tone and as a special prize for reading the entire post, no worries, i DID get punctured approximately 12 times by burs and cactus needles by my foolish hike off the trail in my flipflops. don't worry mom, now that i'm on my own, i still refuse to wear appropriate shoes...

you never think to plan for sprinklers...

at least I didn't think about it.

Jenn and Andrew were brave enough to bring their puppy Henry out for a Christmas Card shoot on a sunny, hot, Arizona morning. Conditions were perfect and we had some great plans for some shots on the beautiful green grass with the twisty palms at Pure Heart Church... and then the 10 A.M. sprinkler schedule started. I walked away fairly pleased and I think they were, too.

This is probably my favorite of the morning...

What a beautiful family... :)

Thanks guys!

My Journey Begins...

Why NOT do something you love, right?! After using multiple point and shoot digital cameras throughout the years I have developed a love for photography... be it "art" or not. After my sister adopted a baby boy a few months ago I decided to try my hand at a few newborn shots. My family was fairly impressed (as they often are with their own kind) and I was pleased with myself so as I attempted to check out at the local Wal-Mart photo lab you can imagine my surprise (flattery...) when I was hounded for a "letter of authorization" from the photographer. What?! Someone not of blood relation feels this wasn't an amateur?! So when my camera died days after I returned home from the trip, I went for it! I dove into Consumer Reports and lusted in dozens of stores before I finally made (up to this point in my young life) the biggest purchase imaginable... a Canon EOS Rebel xSi! Now, for the sake of honesty, I don't really know what all of those letters mean except that Consumer Reports claims this camera rocks for an amateur as myself. So with the promise of a good camera and an unknowing confidence boost by the Wal-Mart photo lab lady... here I go...

My first test is tomorrow morning with a couple brave enough to withstand the Arizona sun and myself with the bright hope of a picture worth their Christmas card. Wish me luck!